How to Improve Workplace Communication

Welcome back to the Body Talk Brief, where we will provide biweekly tips on the science of communication and what you can do to strengthen your communication skills.

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Body Talk is the global leader in evidence-based training on the psychology of communication.?

We deliver communication courses, coaching, virtual learning and live events with our clients worldwide, with over 120,000 people trained from 46 countries over the last 22 years!

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For bulk orders contact our team!

People assume that because we communicate every day, it should be easy, but that isn’t the case! Just take a look at some classic stories: Romeo and Juliet wouldn’t have ended so tragically if everyone in the play had better communication skills. Oedipus surely missed a memo. And half of romantic comedies wouldn’t even exist without a big misunderstanding!

Miscommunication may be great for entertainment, but it is not helpful in the workplace.?

How can you improve workplace communication?

Provide clear instructions and expectations

When leaders are unclear, it can lead to confusion and frustration. Employees and team members need to know what is expected of them to be successful. This ensures that everyone is on the same page and working toward the same goals. Avoid jargon and technical language that people may not understand.?

Manage difficult conversations

Most people try to avoid confrontation, but if you’re in a situation where you need to deal with an objection, your response may have a long-term impact. Dismissing people’s objections or shutting them down can lead to a lack of trust, a demotivated workforce and even a loss of business. When faced with an objection, be sure to show empathy, listen and ask open questions. Then, you can offer your response as a proposal in order to find a collaborative solution that everyone is happy with.?

Build strong relationships

Building relationships are important for trust, respect and collaboration, and they lead to better communication. Ask people how they are feeling. There may be issues on your team that you don’t know about. If you’re relying on guesswork, you’ll risk missing out on crucial information that could help you solve problems. Be open to feedback and compromise when necessary.?

Have a tech skills audit

Because technology is such a huge part of communication in the workplace, it’s important to know where you stand. Updates and advancements are constant, and the learning curve is sharp. If you take the opportunity to find out where people think their skills or confidence is lacking, you can offer more focused training to target people’s weaknesses quicker, improving communication for everyone.

Consider communication training

Whether you’re looking to better communicate with your team, deliver presentations, or improve your use of technology for anything communication related, communication training can help people at any stage of their careers. At Body Talk, we offer communication training, individual coaching, and so much more, and we are proud to help businesses across the globe with all of their communication needs.?

Want to learn more?

Thank you for joining us for another edition of the Body Talk Brief.

You don’t want to miss the LIFT Retreat this May 18-21 in New Forest, UK! This is the only retreat currently scheduled for this year, so book your place while you can.

Check out our ultimate guide to Advanced Presentation Skills for a more thorough introduction to what we do and tangible advice on how to apply Body Talk to your life. And as always, you can contact us here or email us at [email protected].?

Can we help with your communication skills training? We run fun and interactive courses, workshops and masterclasses to increase your team’s confidence, influence and authority. Check them out here.

Don’t forget you can pre-order Lift Your Impact by Richard Newman here in the UK and here in the US! Bulk purchases can be made here.

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